Railway-rail joint.



UNH re. re

FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA; JULIA A. AXMAN EXECUTE/IX 0F SAID RUDOLF .AXMAN, DECEASED.

nUnoLrn, or sen RAILWAY-RAIL JOINT.

Application filed February 24, 1913. Serial N 0. 750,385.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, RUnoLr AXMAN, a citizen or: the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented'new and useful Improvements in Railway-Rail Joints, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in railway railjoints and consists of the noyel construction and arrangement of the parts. The objects sought to be accomplished are, to produce a strong, simple and economical joint for the abutting ends of railway rails; to eliminate all screw threaded connections in the joint; and to bridge the gap between joint constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is aplan view from above of the same. 7 I.

Referring to thehdrawing, 1 designates a base" plate having the longitudinal channel formed between the shoulders 2 and 3,. and

the tapered channel formed between the undercut flanges 4 and 5 To increase rigidity the base plate is provided with the longitudinal corrugation 6. 'The' base plate is provided with the. spike holes 7, punched near the edge in the usual manner.

The bases 8 of the abutting rail ends rest within the channel between the shoulders 2 and 8. This channel being narrower than i the channel between the flanges 4 and 5, the

joint can be assembled without having to slip the base plate onto the ends of the rails.

The inner side plate extends between the head and the base of the rail parallel with the web thereof in the usual manner. This I plate has the lateral foot 10 restingupon H s "the base plate and the lateral foot of the 105 the rail base and engaging the undercut flange 4:: Y

The outer side 7 foot 12 resting upon the rail base and engaging the undercut flange 5 whichinclines toward the longitudinal center of the base Specification of l 'ietters Patent.

particularly pointed outbration.

plate 11 has the lateral- Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

plate forming a tapered channel between the flanges 4 and 5. The inwardly extending flange 15 supports the head of the rail. The

bridge 14 is formed integrally with the side plate 11 and extends upwardly to a level! even with the top of the rail, and the full length of the railjoint, the approaches 15' being inclined slightlylfor obvious reasons. It s the-function of the bridge 14: to support I the tread of the passing car wheels in passmg over the gap 16 between the rail ends.

Since the greatestwear on the bridge is opposite this ap it is reinforcedb an im act .block 17 of V p manganese steel or other very hard metal inlaid at this point.

The side plates are provided with holes colnciding u ith similar holes in the abutting rail ends through which the bolts 18 extend. These bolts are provided with slots through which the taperedkeys' 19 are driven and twisted. The taper of these keys wedge the side platestogether, snugly supporting the rail ends when the'keys are driven tight.

One of the serious conditions to be met in a railjoint is lost motion. It is desirablethat all the elements entering into a railj'oint be held at all times under tension with respect to each other. This isimperative because of the suddenness and magnitude of the im- 4 pact of the car wheels in passing over the railjoint. Because of this necessity for confstant'tension the slot and key-bolt constructi-onis' preferable to the usual thread and nut-which is so liable to unscrew under vi.-

The outer side plate 11 with the tapered engagement with the undercut flange 5 is adapted to be driven into position. The

taper causing a lateral wedging action against the'rail. The function of this wedgingis twofold, it insures a snug fit between the rails and the'side plates, and also prevents creeping of therail through the joint when the travel is all in one direction,

as in the case of double track systems. T0100 allow for adjustment the side plate is provided with elongated'holes 20 toreceive the cross bolts. To lock the side plate in the jammed position the notches 2'1 and 22 in side plate respectively are provided. The

spikes 23 are driven through these holes into spike, As resetting is required by wear a'110 ivider spike 'is used each time to fill the space between the'abutting sides of the re- The inner plate 9 is not therethrough into the tie, securely anchoring the railjoint to the ties and cotiperating with the cross bolts to prevent'the rail creeping through the joint. 7

I i Thejoint is installed as follows: The base plateis laid in position across the ends of the ties in the usual'manner. ends of the rails to be joined are set in positionon the base plate, the

resting between the shoulders 2 and 3. The

inner: side plat'e is set into the side of the aiI and slipped into the undercut groove provided in the base plate for-it. The outer side' plate is placed in position in like manner, 'exceptth at it is driven snugly into position against the taper of the undercut groove provided for it. The cross bolts are put. through the coinciding holes provided in the side plates and the, web of the rail, the taperkey's areldriven tight and the narrow endst'u'rn'ed down, twisted or otherwise clenched to-ho ld the'tension of the side plates aga'ins t the rail ends. The spikes are driven into their respective holes permanently securing the railjoint to the ties,

' andllocking the rail ends, and the side plates from. creeping through the base plate.

Having thus described this invention what is claimed and desired, to secure by Letters Patent is f1. 'An'impr'oved .rail joint comprising a base plate having a longitudinal channel adapted to receive a rail base and on each The abutting base of the rail cut ends,

side an undercut channel the outer channel being inclined with relation to the longitudinal median line of said plate, inner and outer side plates having. lateral feet engag ing the undercut channels, the outer plate having a .wedging engagement -with its jchannel, the edges of said lateral feet and the overhanging edges of said undercut channels belng provided with complemental notches and :;adapted -to receive spikes,

wedging irneans for preventing separating movement of the upper edges of said side said outer side plate being provided having inclined apwith the top plates, with an integral bridge proaches and running parallel and sides of the rail head.

2. 'An improved railjoint comprising a base plate, side plates engaging, said base plate and the abutting rail ends, a bridge being formed integral with one of said side plates and running parallel with the top and side of the rail head, and having a recess in the upper edge thereof provided withunderand an impact block inlaid in said recess and having beveled ends engaging the undercut ends, of said recess.

3. An improved railjoint comprising side plates engaging the abutting rail ends, a bridge being formed integral with one of said" side plates, and provided with a recess in-its upper edge having undercut ends, and an impact block having beveled ends engaging the undercut ends of said recess.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set WM. S.-l-lonsns, CHAS. E. RIORDON 

